Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


5

Karzai Promises Change; Taliban Disses 'Puppet'

Insurgent 'brothers' reject the Afghan president's call for unity

Share

(Newser) – Hamid Karzai made some sweeping but non-specific promises to banish corruption and reach out to opponents today in his first press conference since being re-elected by default. The Afghan president also reached out to "Taliban brothers," urging them to "embrace their land," but his overtures were scorned by insurgent leaders who said the canceled runoff vote was a victory for them, the BBC reports.

Coalition countries had argued that the "puppet president Hamid Karzai was involved in electoral fraud," but now hail his victory "based on those same fraudulent votes," a statement from the Taliban scoffed. Karzai's leading opponent, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, has said he won't join Karzai's administration but will push for reforms from the outside.

Afghan men celebrate Hamid Karzai's victory over Abdullah Abdullah in the Afghanistan's presidential election in Herat, Afghanistan, today.
Afghan men celebrate Hamid Karzai's victory over Abdullah Abdullah in the Afghanistan's presidential election in Herat, Afghanistan, today.   (AP Photo/Fraidoon Pooyaa)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, today.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, today.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
An Afghan man celebrates President Hamid Karzai's victory over challenger Abdullah Abdullah in the presidential election in Herat, Afghanistan, today.
An Afghan man celebrates President Hamid Karzai's victory over challenger Abdullah Abdullah in the presidential election in Herat, Afghanistan, today.   (AP Photo/Fraidoon Pooyaa)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Our government has been seriously discredited by administrative corruption. We will try to remove this stigma from our soil and our country in any possible way. - Hamid Karzai

It would have been better for our country, for the democratic process and for us, if our brother Dr Abdullah had participated and the second round had taken place. - Hamid Karzai

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
11.19.09
Sarah Palin Deserves Some More Attention
5 comments
VIEWING:
 
Fondue
Nov 3, 09 7:38 AM CST
I will banish corruption, just not mine. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
DarkFrancis
Nov 3, 09 7:58 AM CST
The Taliban, much as I hate to say it, are half-right here. Yes, Karzai is a puppet and won an election riven with fraud. I have no heard anyone in the coalition jumping with glee about the guy being declared the victor by default, though. It's a completely disastrous situation...you have a corrupt installation of a President running the joint and an alternative (in the Taliban) that makes the puppet look like a saint. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
RogerMohajir
Nov 3, 09 10:24 AM CST
I wish the Obama administration would stop looking at this as a choice between Karzai and the Taliban. We should use the obviously fraudulent election (and his refusal to take steps to ensure a fair runoff) as grounds for removing him from office and force the formation of a unity government that represents the entire country. We are paying all the costs of running of their country, in blood and treasure, so we should decide how it's run -- not some corrupt figurehead who doesn't even have the support of his own ethnic and tribal affiliations. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
IN RESPONSE:
professortech
Nov 3, 09 11:40 AM CST
Gosh wouldn't it be neat if we could just walk in to any country that recieves our aid and change their leadership? Might have worked in the 19th or early 20th century not so well in the 21st. One more question how would we form a unity government if it would just be recieved as another puppet regime by the locals.
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
RogerMohajir
Nov 3, 09 12:47 PM CST
Afghanistan is not exactly "any country that receives our aid." We have over 50,000 troops there and contribute 95% of the GDP (excluding poppy). That translates into the power (and responsibility) to change their leadership in ANY century. Any government associated with us will be looked upon with suspicion, but one that actually succeeded in reducing corruption and equitably distributing our aid (as would be more likely with a unity government) would have some hope in the long run. And it wouldn't hurt our cause with the Afghan people to acknowledge the failure of the current government and try something new.
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

402 Stories

Pakistani Intelligence Sheltering Taliban Leader

Mullah Omar hiding in Karachi: US sources

Nov 20, 09 6:50 PM CST
(Newser) - Pakistan’s intelligence service is secretly sheltering the Taliban’s top leader, US intelligence sources tell the Washington Times —helping Mullah Omar escape from the town of Quetta, along the Afghanistan border, to the port city of Karachi, deep within Pakistan. The sources say Mullah Omar is leading a... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Afghanistan • Taliban • Karachi • US intelligence • Mullah Omar • Pakistan intelligence services

Suicide Bomber Kills 16
in Afghanistan

Two children among the dead in latest attack

Nov 20, 09 6:44 AM CST
(AP) - A suicide bomber on a motorcycle killed 16 people, including two children and a policeman, and wounded at least 23 others today in a busy city square in western Afghanistan. The violence comes a day after President Hamid Karzai, in his second inaugural address, said he has placed national reconciliation... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Afghanistan • Taliban • suicide bomber • suicide bombing • South Waziristan

 Karzai Sworn In, 
 Vows  to Fight 
 Corruption  

Afghan prez promises to take over country's security in 5 years 

Nov 19, 09 7:31 AM CST
(Newser) - Hamid Karzai vowed to fight corruption today after he was sworn in to a second 5-year term as president of Afghanistan. Karzai, whose election victory was tainted by widespread allegations of vote-rigging, said his government would learn from "our mistakes and shortcomings of the last eight years." The... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Afghanistan • Hillary Clinton • Hamid Karzai • disputed election • Abdullah Abdullah • Afghanistan election

402 Stories


World 
TwitterFollow @NewserWorld on Twitter

 
Afghanistan • Taliban • Hamid Karzai • corruption • Abdullah Abdullah • Afghanistan election

from our news partners